The age of artificial intelligence has long since risen from the starting blocks. For technology-savvy individuals, it's like a renaissance moment; for traditional companies, it may be a wake-up call. The big question is no longer how to approach AI, but how to use it effectively without floundering.
Brain drain describes the outflow of highly qualified specialists. We define data drain as the rapid loss of valuable knowledge and data across national borders.
That artificial intelligence (AI) has entered the era of mainstream technology cannot be denied. A simple click on the website of OpenAIand texts are created that originate from an AI. For those who have the necessary expertise, the so-called prompting, the AI even generates content for which no human intervention is required. Others, however, are faced with a conglomerate of half-truths and passively formulated, intertwined sentences.
However, this ubiquitous access to AI technology holds a problematic twist. Business processes that could not adapt to this technological penetration at the same rapid pace lost relevance. Employees in companies were confronted with a tidal wave of automation. Yet many business processes, especially since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, are stuck in their traditional structure and have been overlooked by this AI wave. Meanwhile, giants like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Adobe are not idle and are adjusting their strategies.
But Germany is facing a worrying development: the loss of knowledge. In the past, there have been numerous discussions about how Germany can create an appealing environment for highly qualified professionals. But beyond the physical presence of these experts, another question looms large: Can knowledge be lost merely because of the physical departure of these experts? In our view, no. Because AI Toolswhich learn through interaction, create a "data train" that transfers know-how, expertise and trade secrets across national borders almost free of charge. This knowledge transfer, which once took hours by air, now takes place within fractions of a second via submarine cables.
What does the dominance of such AI tools mean for your workforce? Employees with no to little AI knowledge face a growing knowledge gap, unprepared and under pressure to perform. Knowledgeable colleagues are becoming more efficient and cycles of communication are increasing, putting pressure on low-knowledge workers. Potentially, this stressful situation can lead to increased turnover in your organization and create a generation gap. It is therefore imperative to rethink business processes, redesign the role of employees, and ensure that data is not leaking out of your organization through targeted training. In the past, IT used to completely block problematic websites in the company network. However, this approach has little chance of success, at the latest in the home office, where employees can also access such sites via private wi-fi. The identification of alternative, secure solutions and awareness-raising in the use of software play an important role.
For Entrepreneurs of the AI Age innovative approaches, agile working methods and ongoing training are essential. And the public sector? It must prepare itself to advise companies on how to deal with AI, develop support measures and adapt the legal framework.
Can financial commitment stop this data outflow? Certainly, but Germany will have to dig deep into its public coffers. Several initiatives are already working hard to strengthen AI in Germany and Europe. Their efforts are commendable and indispensable for Europe's digital future.
Nevertheless, and this should be emphasized in all clarity, the ability to train one's own AI models from scratch remains a metier for specialists. The complexity and diversity of the algorithms, data structures and training methods require not only a deep understanding of the subject matter, but also a fair amount of experience and practice. For those who have this expertise, however, a cornucopia of possibilities opens up. Adapting and personalizing AI systems to meet specific business needs or innovative research fields enables a competitive advantage and the development of new business areas. Where mainstream applications find their limits, individually trained AI models can provide tailored solutions and thus significantly support a future-oriented and sustainable digital strategy.
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